NORTH CANTERBURY, New Zealand, Dec. 6, 2018 (Stuff.co.nz) -Companies are creating a "tsunami" of plastic waste by falsely telling consumers their packaging can be recycled when it cannot, an eco-educator says.

Eco Educate founder Lesley Ottey said she was horrified to discover her local Spark store was giving out bags it claimed were recyclable.

She said staff at the Rangiora store told her the bags could be put into the local council kerbside recycling bins, and Spark's Facebook team told her the same.